Anionic surfactant based reverse micellar extraction of L-asparaginase synthesized by Azotobacter vinelandii

l-Asparaginase synthesized by Azotobacter vinelandii via submerged fermentation in the presence of sucrose was successfully extracted using Reverse micellar extraction. Single step enzyme purification process was developed by varying the process variables which resulted in maximum specificity and extraction of l-asparaginase. The effect of different variables, including broth pH, addition of alcohol during the forward extraction and pH of the fresh stripping aqueous phase, addition of alcohol and electrolyte during backward extraction process were studied. Lower concentration of butanol resulted in maximum activity of the enzyme during forward extraction while enzyme activity was found to increase further with the addition of higher concentrations of ammonium sulphate during backward extraction. Chromatographic analysis of l-asparaginase peak at similar to 7.65 min was intense for the back extracted sample confirming the maximum purity of l-asparaginase obtained. Purity of l-asparaginase was increased to about 379.68 fold. [GRAPHICS] .